The crew, yesterday on SNY’s WheelHouse, discuss the question. Here’s the video:

Last season, Sabathia faced 1,023 batters in 253 innings pitched. That is sorta/kinda crazy. For what it’s worth, Roy Halladay did something like that in 2003 (1,071 BF in 266 IP) and then he was not able to make more than 21 starts in either of his next two seasons…due to a bad right shoulder and an injury to his left leg. However, it’s significant to note that the leg injury was a fluke thing caused by a batted ball.

The crew, yesterday on SNY’s WheelHouse, discuss the question. Here’s the video:

If I had to pick one leader that Joe wants to pattern himself after…that would be Tony Dungy – just because I recall Girardi mentioning how much he admired Dungy. How about you? Who does Girardi remind you of…and what type of manager do you think he’ll be this year?

Me? There’s no way that MLB can do anything here. And, if they’re smart, they won’t even try – because the MLBPA, and maybe even the ACLU, would be on them like flies to a road apple. Congress? Well, they’ve said that they won’t ask Alex to appear…but, I suppose that’s always subject to change, right?

Brandon Tierney and Scott Ferrall, yesterday on SNY’s WheelHouse, prior to the Yankees game last night, discuss the Yankees starting rotation and the role of Andy Pettitte as a team leader. Here’s the video:

It is interesting that, since Pettitte came out and said that the Yankees “stink” and “need to play better,” the team has now won four in a row.

Makes me wonder…when the day comes where Pettitte, Rivera, and Mussina are gone…who will be the next set of leaders on the Yankees pitching staff? I hope that someone is there to step-up and be a leader…like Pettitte is now. Maybe Joba Chamberlain can be one of those next leaders? He seems to have the make-up for it.

Brandon Tierney and Scott Ferrall, yesterday on SNY’s WheelHouse; and, Adam Schein and Chris Carlin, yesterday on SNY’s Loud Mouths, discuss whether or not the Yankees should go after C.C. Sabathia (via a trade with the Indians). Here’s the video:

I’ve already gone on record and shared that I would not sign Sabathia as a Free Agent after this season. However, in terms of having him as a rent-a-player for this year, I would be willing to sing a different tune – especially with Worm Killer Wang now probably done for the season.

The question is: What are you willing to give up for a half-season of Sabathia plus the draft picks that you’ll get when he walks at year end? I believe that you’re looking at two very good prospects plus someone who can buy some time, now, at the big league level – because Indians’ G.M. Mark Shapiro is a smart cookie.

It would probably cost the Yankees a package of Ian Kennedy, David Robertson and Dellin Betances to get Sabathia and those draft picks – or something close to that package.

But, you know what? If I’m the Yankees, and that’s the deal, I would really have to consider pulling the trigger and getting it done.

Brandon Tierney and Scott Ferrall, yesterday on SNY’s WheelHouse, prior to the Yankees game last night, discuss whether or not Andy Pettitte should retire after this season. Here’s the video:

Me? I think Andy Pettitte has learned many things at the knee of Roger Clemens. And, this includes the “I’m going to retire. I’m not going to retire – if you’re willing to pay me well” trick. It would not shock me to hear about Pettitte possibly retiring at the end of every season for the next five years. Should he retire? Hey, he’s left-handed and durable. There will always be a need for starters like that – even if they’re not Cy Young Award quality. As long as someone is willing to pay, and he wants to keep making money, why should he retire? Should he return to the Yankees? Well, if Mussina goes, I think the Yankees have to bring Andy back. You cannot count on Kennedy and Hughes for next season. That leaves Wang and Chamberlain. The Yankees will need bodies for the rotation next season. So, why not bring Pettitte back?

Brandon Tierney and Scott Ferrall, yesterday on SNY’s WheelHouse, prior to the Yankees game last night, discuss Joe Girardi’s recent beefs and reactions with umpiring crews. Here’s the video:

I did get a kick out of General Joe waving his arm (out of disgust) at umpire crew chief Dana DeMuth on Tuesday (during Girardi’s protest about the rain). I never thought we would see that type of reaction from Joe. Yes, I thought he would stick up for his players. But, he’s shown us a little more Weaver/Piniella/Martin type stuff this season than I expected. When Joe waived at DeMuth, I thought he might have gotten run for that. Now, that may have led to an even better show than the one on May 22nd.

“Joba’s staying in the bullpen right now. That’s where we’re at. [Putting him in the rotation is] not something that’s going to happen here early on, and [Hank] knows that. We’ve talked about it. I don’t know what set him off.”

“It’s all of our intention to try to get him back into the rotation by the end of the year. I’ve addressed it many times, as did Joe (Girardi) and (GM Brian) Cashman. I’m just saying it would be nice to have him there right now. He’s going to be great anywhere we have him but, my preference is as a starter and that’s everybody else’s preference, too.”

So, Hank said Joba was needed in the rotation now. Cashman said it’s not going to happen early. Then Hank shared the team plan was to have him there by the end of the year and that he wasn’t demanding for Joba to start now.

Well, Adam Schein has a point. It doesn’t sound like moving Joba now was always the team’s plan, does it?

Kevin Kernan was on SNY’s WheelHouse yesterday and had some more to add on the Hank/Joba topic:

It’s interesting. As I was watching Pettitte’s game last night, I did find myself thinking “You know, as much as I love the guy – and, I do, he’s one of my favorite Yankees – and, as much as the Yankees need him this year, still, seeing the issues that Andy’s having with his sinker and slider drifting back into the hitting zone and getting hammered by righties, maybe the team should think twice about offering him a long-term deal after this season?”

It’s a really tough call – because the Yankees will need starters next season too – just as bad, if not more, than they need them now. And, to Brandon Tierney’s point, you’ll never find a pitcher with a bigger heart and more determination than Pettitte. But, do you want to pay $16 million a season, for several years more, for Andy Pettitte beyond 2008?

Brandon Tierney and Scott Ferrall, yesterday on SNY’s WheelHouse, disagree on whether Joe Torre’s better off being gone from Yankeeland or if the Yankees are better off without Torre. Here’s the video:

Me? I think it’s win-win. Torre gets a fresh start, in a town with a big enough spotlight for him to play the “I want to be treated like a celeb” card – with a nice paycheck to boot. And, the New York finally has a clean break from “Torre Yankees” which were great from 1996 to 2003 – but not so hot for the last four years.

Ferrall asks the right question for me: “How in God’s name did this guy crack a rib pitching?” (I still think there’s a story there yet to be told.)

For Kennedy, it has really turned into open season on his “stuff.” In addition to the WheelHouse guys, on WFAN this afternoon, Mike and The Mad Dog, as well as some callers, were directly questioning whether or not Ian’s stuff is good enough to retire big league batters.

Me? I think that Kennedy, if this season doesn’t fry him, still has a chance to be a major league pitcher. Hey, he might only be as good as a Bob Tewksbury type pitcher – but, that’s still a big league hurler.

But, it may take two or three years for Ian to figure it all out. And, if it does take that long, when he finds it, he will not be pitching for the Yankees.

Brandon Tierney and Scott Ferrall, yesterday on SNY’s WheelHouse, suggested that the Yankees might be willing to swing a deal come June 1st if things don’t turn around in Yankeeland. Here’s the video:

Ah, but, here’s the first question: For what? At this point, I would imagine that it would be for starting pitching and/or a first baseman. Every other position is set for the Yankees. And, while Posada is out, I don’t see New York trading for a catcher.

The next question may be a bigger one: At what cost? If the Yankees trade anything it would be prospects – because that’s the only thing that someone would want from them. And, here, it would probably be a battle between Cashman and Hank Stein on whether or not to do it.

Would Hank order Cash to make a trade, say, like Austin Jackson and Ian Kennedy for (the Nationals) John Lannan and Nick Johnson? Hey, if the Yankees are playing .500 ball at the end of May, he just might…